Introduction

The SIMOPATH Series is a single point of entry for the training offerings from SimoTime and a repository for the learning materials used in the classroom sessions or self-study courses. The offerings are structured into three groups.

Item

Description

1

A SIMOPATH Workshop is a group of sessions combined into a single offering. A workshop is only available as a classroom session and may be accomplished in a single day or span multiple days. It usually covers a variety of related subjects.

2

A SIMOPATH Session may be conducted in a formal classroom environment or it may be a self-study course provided on line. A SIMOPATH Session usually focuses on a single subject matter.

3

A SIMOPATH Task is used in support of the sessions and is usually an HTML document that describes the step-by-step instructions for doing a specific task. The documents may be considered as reference material and are especially useful for tasks that are performed on an infrequent basis and are easy to forget.

SIMOPATH Groups or Categories

We have made a significant effort to ensure the documents and software technologies are correct and accurate. We reserve the right to make changes without notice at any time. The function delivered in this version is based upon the enhancement requests from a specific group of users. The intent is to provide changes as the need arises and in a timeframe that is dependent upon the availability of resources.

SIMOPATH Training Sessions

A SIMOPATH Session is a classroom or self-study exercise that covers a complete topic. It has a lecture or reading component followed by a hands-on exercise.

Convert a File from EBCDIC to ASCII

The
Data File Migration Training Session
will describe how to convert an EBCDIC-encoded file to an ASCII-encoded file while maintaining the mainframe numeric encoding formats. The EBCDIC-encoded file has been downloaded from a mainframe to a Personal Computer with Windows and Micro Focus COBOL. This session requires the SimoTime technologies and a copy of Micro Focus Net Express (preferably v4.0 or later) to be installed. The session may be done with an earlier version of Net Express or Mainframe Express, The instructions will need to be adjusted accordingly. This session is available as a classroom offering or a self-study course.

Compare Two Files (Item File)

The
Data File Comparison Training Session
will describe how to compare two data files. This session requires the SimoTime technologies and a copy of Micro Focus Net Express (preferably v4.0) to be installed. The session may be done with an earlier version of Net Express or Mainframe Express, The instructions will need to be adjusted accordingly. This session is available as a classroom offering or a self-study course.

Introduction to Numeric Formats

The
Introduction to Mainframe Numeric Formats
will describe some of the common numeric formats used on a mainframe. This session requires the SimoTime technologies and a copy of Micro Focus Net Express (preferably v4.0) to be installed on a Windows system. The session may be done with an earlier version of Net Express or Mainframe Express, The instructions will need to be adjusted accordingly. This session is available as a classroom offering or a self-study course.

Environment Variables in COBOL

This example will describe and demonstrate how a
COBOL program can access environment variables
using Micro Focus Net Express. The first program starts by setting, getting and displaying an environment variable for a file name. A second program will the environment variable to map its program-file-name to the actual physical-file-name defined in the environment variable. This session is available as a classroom offering or a self-study course.

SIMOPATH Task Documents

A Task Document provides a step-by-step explanation of how to do a particular software function. The SIMOPATH Tasks Documents are used to support the SIMOPATH Training Sessions.

Net Express (Functions & Features)

This section links to the SIMOPATH sessions that describe how to perform various tasks within Net Express.

Compile Source Code within a Project

Debug or Animate a COBOL Program

Data File Editor (Functions & Features)

This section links to the SIMOPATH sessions that describe how to perform various tasks within Net Express and the Data File Editor.

View Records in a Data File

This session describes how to use the basic functions of the Micro Focus Data File Editor to
view records
in a data file. The records are displayed in a list format and option to view in a hexadecimal format is included.

Create a Structure File

The purpose of the
Create a Structure File
is to describe in a step by step process how to create a structure file that may be used by the Micro Focus Data File Editor to view a file and map the records to a data structure defined in a COBOL copy file or source member.

View Records using Structure

This session describes how to use the advanced functions of the Micro Focus Data File Editor to
view records
in a data file. The records are displayed using a structure file based on a COBOL definition of the record structure.

Additional Reference Material

This section includes links to additional reference material that is complementary to the scope and purpose of this document.

Note:The latest versions of the SimoTime Documents and Program Suites are available on the Internet and may be accessed using the icon. If a user has a SimoTime Enterprise License the Documents and Program Suites may be available on a local server and accessed using the icon.

Explore The ASCII and EBCDIC Translation Tables. These tables are provided for individuals that need to better understand the bit structures and differences of the encoding formats.

Explore The Binary or COMP format for numeric data strings. This numeric structure is supported by COBOL and may be explicitly defined with the "USAGE IS COMP" or "USAGE IS BINARY" clause.

Explore The Edited for Display format for numeric data strings. This numeric structure is supported by COBOL and may be used with an edit-mask to prepare the presentation for readability by human beings.

Explore The Packed-Decimal or COMP-3 format for numeric data strings. This numeric structure is supported by COBOL and may be explicitly defined with the "USAGE IS COMP-3" clause.

Explore The Zoned-Decimal format for numeric data strings. This numeric structure is the default numeric for COBOL and may be explicitly defined with the "USAGE IS DISPLAY" clause.

Summary

The SIMOPATH Series is a single point of entry for the training offerings from SimoTime and a repository for the learning materials used in the classroom sessions or self-study courses. This document may be used as a tutorial for new programmers or as a quick reference for experienced programmers.

In the world of programming there are many ways to solve a problem. This document and the links to other documents are intended to provide a greater awareness of the Data Management and Application Processing alternatives.

The documentation and software were developed and tested on systems that are configured for a SIMOTIME environment based on the hardware, operating systems, user requirements and security requirements. Therefore, adjustments may be needed to execute the jobs and programs when transferred to a system of a different architecture or configuration.

SIMOTIME Services has experience in moving or sharing data or application processing across a variety of systems. For additional information about SIMOTIME Services or Technologies please send an e-mail to: helpdesk@simotime.com or call 415 883-6565. We appreciate hearing from you.

Software Agreement and Disclaimer

Permission to use, copy, modify and distribute this software, documentation or training material for any purpose requires a fee to be paid to SimoTime Technologies. Once the fee is received by SimoTime the latest version of the software, documentation or training material will be delivered and a license will be granted for use within an enterprise, provided the SimoTime copyright notice appear on all copies of the software. The SimoTime name or Logo may not be used in any advertising or publicity pertaining to the use of the software without the written permission of SimoTime Technologies.

SimoTime Technologies makes no warranty or representations about the suitability of the software, documentation or learning material for any purpose. It is provided "AS IS" without any expressed or implied warranty, including the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. SimoTime Technologies shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages resulting from the loss of use, data or projects, whether in an action of contract or tort, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of this software, documentation or training material.

Downloads and Links

This section includes links to documents with additional information that are beyond the scope and purpose of this document. The first group of documents may be available from a local system or via an internet connection, the second group of documents will require an internet connection.

Note: A SimoTime License is required for the items to be made available on a local system or server.

Current Server or Internet Access

The following links may be to the current server or to the Internet.

Note:The latest versions of the SimoTime Documents and Program Suites are available on the Internet and may be accessed using the icon. If a user has a SimoTime Enterprise License the Documents and Program Suites may be available on a local server and accessed using the icon.

Explore An Enterprise System Model that describes and demonstrates how Applications that were running on a Mainframe System and non-relational data that was located on the Mainframe System were copied and deployed in a Microsoft Windows environment with Micro Focus Enterprise Server.

Explore the COBOL Connection for more examples of COBOL programming techniques and sample code.

Explore an Extended List of Software Technologies that are available for review and evaluation. The software technologies (or Z-Packs) provide individual programming examples, documentation and test data files in a single package. The Z-Packs are usually in zip format to reduce the amount of time to download.

Internet Access Required

The following links will require an internet connect.

A good place to start is
The SimoTime Home Page
for access to white papers, program examples and product information. This link requires an Internet Connection

Explore
The Micro Focus Web Site
for more information about products and services available from Micro Focus. This link requires an Internet Connection.

Glossary of Terms

Explore the Glossary of Terms for a list of terms and definitions used in this suite of documents and white papers.

Comments or Feedback

This document was created and is copyrighted and maintained by SimoTime Technologies.

If you have any questions, suggestions, comments or feedback please call or send an e-mail to: helpdesk@simotime.com

We appreciate hearing from you.

Company Overview

SIMOTIME Technologies was founded in 1987 and is a privately owned company. We specialize in the creation and deployment of business applications using new or existing technologies and services. We have a team of individuals that understand the broad range of technologies being used in today's environments. Our customers include small businesses using Internet technologies to corporations using very large mainframe systems.

Quite often, to reach larger markets or provide a higher level of service to existing customers it requires the newer Internet technologies to work in a complementary manner with existing corporate mainframe systems. We specialize in preparing applications and the associated data that are currently residing on a single platform to be distributed across a variety of platforms.

Preparing the application programs will require the transfer of source members that will be compiled and deployed on the target platform. The data will need to be transferred between the systems and may need to be converted and validated at various stages within the process. SIMOTIME has the technology, services and experience to assist in the application and data management tasks involved with doing business in a multi-system environment.

Whether you want to use the Internet to expand into new market segments or as a delivery vehicle for existing business functions or need assistance with converting non-relational data structures simply give us a call at 415 883-6565 or check the web site at http://www.simotime.com